Watzke Insists There Is No War Between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says that there is no war with Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich. The relationship between both sides grew tense after the transfers of Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski to Bayern, and was followed by the war of words between Bayern director Matthias Sammer and BVB coach Jurgen Klopp.

When Dortmund’s Mario Gotze joined the club’s arch-rivals Bayern Munich in the summer transfer of 2013, there was a lot of disappointing among Dortmund fans. It was speculated that the transfer fee was as a way for Dortmund to clear its debt. But the tensions became heated again when BVB star striker Robert Lewandowski refused to extend his contract at Dortmund, and agreed a deal to join Bayern Munich on a free transfer this summer.

Nevertheless, Watzke has insisted there is no need for peace talks. He said:

“We are not at war with Bayern, so we do not need any peace talks. We are each other’s rivals, though. We should not act as if we love each other because that’s not the case. And anybody on either side can expect something like that.”

He also dismissed suggestions that Bayern saved Dortmund from bankruptcy in the past:

“This is all a myth. Bayern loaned €2 million to my predecessor against an eight percent interest. It’s not like Bayern were Mother Teresa. This €2 million eventually didn’t help us. My first job was to repay the €2m, which had disappeared by then.

“Loaning money from another club was one of the biggest mistakes ever made. As long as I’m in charge, I would rather beg for money on the streets than take another club’s money.”

A sense of animosity from fans toward another club is not the same as a “war” between the two clubs themselves.

It would appear wise for most German clubs to not war with Bayern – the Munich outfit’s size and influence is so vast, they’ll swallow you up. The truth might suck, but it doesn’t make it any less true.

BTW: clubs loaning other clubs money – unless it’s like Man City helping out Aldershot town or something (and even that’s not fully on) is madness.